Dr. Okeke of VEC Joins Forces with the Lions Club to Increase Glaucoma Awareness

Virginia Beach, VA, February 14, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Dr. Constance Okeke of Virginia Eye Consultants has joined forces with the Lions Club to increase glaucoma awareness.

Dr. Constance Okeke gave a lecture to the members of the Lions Club Oceanview Chapter about glaucoma. Glaucoma is called "the sneak thief of sight" since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing. The president of the chapter, Cecil Smithson, who is also a patient of Dr Okeke, invited her to educate his chapter members about this disease.

January is Glaucoma awareness month and a time to share the word about this sight stealing disease. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. In the lecture, Dr Okeke touched upon what glaucoma is, who is at risk and how it is treated.

Dr. Constance Okeke also spent time teaching the group members on how they can actively screen for glaucoma based on risk factors without even looking at someone's eyes. Dr. Okeke understands the importance of forming alliances with community organizations to educate and share information with as many people as possible about glaucoma.

Dr. Okeke joined Virginia Eye Consultants in July, 2009. Prior to that, she practiced ophthalmology as a glaucoma specialist at the University of Pennsylvania Scheie Eye Institute in Philadelphia for four years where she quickly ascended in rank from Clinical Instructor to serve as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology.

About the Center
Virginia Eye Consultants was established in 1963 by John W. Dickerson, Norfolk’s first ophthalmic pathologist and oculoplastic surgeon. In 1979 Dr. Bruce I. Bodner joined Dr. Dickerson, adding his corneal specialty expertise to the practice and founding the Lions Eye Bank of Eastern VA. Today, VEC is a 12 provider multi sub specialty ophthalmic practice with 3 locations in Norfolk, Hampton Roads and Suffolk